Your Voice is Powerful—Here’s How We Just Proved It
H.R. 9495 passed in the House, but your voice is already making a difference. Here’s how we fight back in the Senate.
Sometimes, progress comes in unexpected ways, and today, I have good news that might feel a little confusing at first—but stick with me because it’s a win worth celebrating.
Let’s talk about H.R. 9495, the bill that gives Donald Trump alarming power to shut down nonprofits he doesn’t like. It passed in the House of Representatives, which is frustrating, yes.
If you want to know more about it, check out this post I made:
But here’s the kicker: when it came up for a vote earlier this year, 52 Democrats supported it. After a ton of pressure—your calls, emails, and outreach—that number plummeted to just 15 Democrats voting for it this time.
That’s the power of your voice in action. When we show up, speak up, and demand better, it works.
And here’s more good news: remember when Trump wanted Matt Gaetz as his Attorney General nominee? That didn’t happen because we didn’t let it. Gaetz withdrew, and that’s another victory we should be proud of.
What’s Next?
H.R. 9495 is heading to the Senate, and while Senator Schumer has promised not to bring it up this session, we need to stay vigilant. Why? Because bills like this have a sneaky way of getting stuffed into “must-pass” legislation at the last minute.
This is where you come in.
Pick up the phone and call your senators. Click HERE to find your Senator’s phone numbers in DC.
Tell them:
• You oppose H.R. 9495.
• You want them to vocally oppose it, too, especially if it’s tied to critical bills later this year.
Thanks to Jessica Craven for providing us with this script.
“Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I know HR 9495 passed in the House yesterday, and I’m very disappointed about it. I’m hearing that Senator Schumer won’t bring it up in the Senate this session, which I’m glad about, but I worry it could get put into a must-pass bill before the end of the year. I oppose this bill strongly—it would give Donald Trump unlimited power to shut down nonprofits he doesn’t like—and I want the Senator to vocally oppose it. Please ask him/her to make a statement saying that s/he will vote against any package that contains it this session, and that they will be a staunch opponent going forward. Thanks.”
Easy, right? Let’s flood their offices with calls. Pressure works—this is how we win.
Why This Matters
This isn’t just about a bill. It’s about protecting the organizations that fight for us every day, whether it’s for our rights, our environment, or our communities. It’s about holding the line against the kind of overreach that undermines democracy itself.
Together, we’ve already shown what we can do. Let’s keep going.
Your voice matters. Use it.
Helpful post and nice to hear your voice reading it!